There are no words to describe how much your music has affected my life, lifestyle, thoughts and my own music. Your music has always give me inspiration, day after day. Every day I think that how have you been able to keep your music so pure and so strong all these years? The answer is that it must be some kind of magic. There is no other bands or artists in this world, that could do the same.

Others will fall, but Running Wild will stand forever.

Thank you Rolf.

- Teemu Korpiaho / Bunderjager / Finland
*I might put some pic later.

Last edited by Bunderjager on Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:08 pm; edited 3 times in total_________________God is an illusion and there ain't no paradise...
And there is no underworld below...
Out there is no heaven and there ain't no Antichrist...
Welcome to the real World...
And the show!

I'm not one to use big words and maybe the band has not affected my life as much as it has others', but nevertheless it's been something unique and special, a safe harbor in an ever-changing world. "The song remains the same", so they say and it's nice to know there are bands who almost did not change over the years.

Taken by storm. That was how I felt when I first heard Running Wild, and I've been riding it since that moment. There was really something special about their music, which made the music stand apart from the rest of the metal scene even if it seemed so standardized on the surface. I don't know, but I guess they just hit the nail on the head with the pirate theme, and never looked back. Rolf's untraditional voice, machine gun riff-style and huge talent for writing fast and epic heavy metal gave us a long string of legendary albums, many of which would rank as some of the best true metal albums, at least in my book.

And I totally understand Rolf's decision to quit now. You just can't keep writing the same kind of songs for 20 years and still get the same kick, so Captain Rolf Kasparek, I wish you all the best in the future and I hope you can find new inspiration elsewhere, be it in a studio, on stage or in your garden!
There will never be another Running Wild, and really, why should there be? The past is the past. This is the future. And like our cap'n, we all soon need to move on, keeping nothing but the memories and the musical legacy alive.

For eternal inspiration,
Jon Malmin

Last edited by Baptized in Fire on Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:33 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thank you, Rolf, for the Greatest Metal Band forever - Running Wild! Your music gives me a lot of magic times in my life. Your lyrics was always an inspiration to me. Your vocal was (and always will be!) the most strongest & charismatic in metal. Rolf, your art gives me strength to live in this world!

One more time - thank you for all Running Wild releases and those brave years. Keep the Flag! Alexander Kholin.

Rolf Thank You for RUNNING WILD!!! Thank You for GREAT MUSIC, for so many amazing songs and melodies! Running Wild was first ever metal music I've heard and really loved and it's push me to became die hard metalhead! End of Running Wild is BIG loss for me... See You in WACKEN and Thank You for ALL!!!

Running Wild had change my life forever, and helped me to return from the Land of Ice and to escape in Tortuga Bay .....Thanks to Captain Rock'N'Rolf for all this Years of Piracy !!!!!The Running Wild is my life, my spirit and my soul!!! Viva Jolly Roger!!!!!!

I don't know how my life would have gone without Running Wild, it's the one band that really evolved my musical taste. Even though I never saw the band live or anything like that, it doesn't matter in the end. All that matters is that the Running Wild is the pinnacle of heavy metal - and by far the best music ever recorded.

So thank you Rolf, you had a good run over the years. Now just continue conquering the seven seas with your pirate ship and crew, eternally. We shall meet again. Bye!

Vice
(Finland)

Last edited by Vice on Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:35 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thank you
- for awakening my love for metal with your music,
- for always inspiring my thoughts with your lyrics,
- and for accompanying the major part of my life with your immortal songs.

The musical world will be emptier without you, but it would be desolate if you had never existed. In the hearts of your fans you will always have a special place. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

There will never be another Running wild. Thank you deeply for all those years of sailing metal seas with flags high and proud. Thank you for making me love and buy an explorer guitar, for unstoppable barrage of greatest riffs, for those uplifting songs that fill one with such a power its almost terryfying, for having one of the most likeable voices ever and thanks for the whole legend of Black hand Inn. Thanks Rolf, the metal world owes you big time

It was early 1988, when I heard RUNNING WILD for a first time. It was the "Prisoner Of Our Time" song, played on the radio. I was a kid back then of course, and I just discovered bands like MAIDEN, ACCEPT, PRIEST and MANOWAR. I falled in love in RUNNING WILD, and the same week I bought the "Gates To Purgatory" and "Branded And Exiled" tapes, which became my absolute favorites for a long time, and I have no idea, for how many days, weeks or even months, they were locked in my walkman! Shortly after that I discovered many other great German acts, such as STORMWITCH or WARLOCK, but RUNNING WILD became one of my absolute favorites for the next 20 years (or even more, actually). Yes, I'm honored to say, that I'm a RUNNING WILD fan, it was a brilliant band. It was? No, it still is! Who cares, that Rolf won't be doing next albums under this banner - all the classics he recorded so far, are already immortal, and RUNNING WILD is, and always will be immortal. Chains and leather, forever!

Thank you very much for all these years of fuckin'heavy metal and for making me a real metalhead!
I'm very sad about your decision to low the flag for the last time, but i'm sure that Running Wild will live forever in all the hearts and in all the heads and in all the way of thinking of many and many people!

Not for love and money I would miss out on being listed on that CD with my name. Those years with you and Running Wild have not been the worst in my life, after all, notwithstanding the hardship we had to endure at times.

It's quite a good thing to see that you have kept up the flag we have put up at that time, sometimes at the cost of great privations. Your passion and your unconditional belief in yourself have carried you a long way, which has to be admired without reservation.

It's a pity that it's over now, but we all know: one should leave on the crest of the wave, don't we, old chum?

I wish you the very best and any success possibly conceivable for your way ahead, but no sorrow here, you know how the land lies .

Thanks for being a part of my life.I am a seaman,not that this really matters but when i first listened to Running Wild i felt like i was a pirate!Piracy is tottaly different nowadays than Running Wild use to describe but the point of it almost the same.Bounty Rulers Running Wild there is a ship ahoy!

It's a shame to hear that Running Wild are handing in the towel after over 25 years in the business. Unfortunately, I wont be able to make it to Wacken 09, which is a shame because I have never had the chance (nor will I) to see the band live. However, I have their entire music collection, plus a DVD. Their music is such a blessing to listen to; I can't go a day without listening to at least one of their songs!

Thank you very much Running Wild for your contributions to heavy metal, you will be missed!

First of all.. Huge thank you for everything. The career you made is one of a kind, and i can't give enough words to explain how much pleasure the albums gave me over the years, and will give in the future. I hope only the best for your future career!

Timo Takala (teekuis) (Finland)

Last edited by teekuis on Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thank you Rolf for alle the fantastic music you made over the years.
I discovered Running Wild for me only ~2 Years ago, so i had no chance to see RW live till now. As i'm only 24 years old right now i've missed manny great shows, but i'm happy that I#v got one chance to be part of a Running Wild show.
So i'll see you at this years Wacken Open Air and make a dream come true

it was about about 1990 when a friend of mine gave me a mix-tape with "Riding The Storm" on it - oh, what an awesome & great song! I was totally hooked from the start!!! (aged about 12) so ALL these years (about 20!!!) i've supportet you & everybody behind YOUR baby - because it was & still is the best German Metal band around! I'm also very glad i met you personally in Munich on 23/09/2005 after a great live show! So thank you very much for all the great & remindable times we shared! The music & art you left is immortal!

Rolf and Running Wild for all these years. A friend of mine played 'Port Royal' for me in 1989 and since then I'm hooked. I've been listening to all kinds of hard rock and metal for more than 25 years and I can honestly say that no other band has come close to what you are. Your music is unique and very special. Not many artists/bands can achieve that. Thank you for everything and I wish you luck with everything in the future.

I know Running Wild when i was 13 years old and have changed my life.
The legacy of Running Wild will live forever, my sons will know what this band represents to me.
Thank You for everything Mr. Rolf, you're fantastic.

Thank you Rolf for being one of the biggest parts in my life!
Thank you for leading me through my good high-times and my bad low-times!
Running Wild is the first thing that comes to my mind when I talk or think about Music! Thank you for helping me to get my mind free through your lyrics!
I think I would never have started playing the Guitar without knowing Rolf, you are the biggest influence that I ever had!
Thank you so much for let me see things, that the most people do not see!
You gave me the fucking greatest time in my life and I'm sure that I will have a lot of great times with your music in the future!

I wish you all the best for whatever you will do now Rolf!
Be sure, that I will alway stand behind you, your music and your ideals!

You got my full respect and I'm taking my head off to salute you!

Keep the Roger raised and Stay true, like you did it the last 30 years!

Thank you for everything!

All the best and cheers from little Esbeck in Germany near Braunschweig!

Steffen Wellegehausen
Metalhead

(A picture will follow soon)

Last edited by Metalhead on Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:19 pm; edited 1 time in total